All Saints’ Churchwardens write

As we write it is chill and damp, but by the time you are reading this the summer should be well and truly here. Whatever the weather, the month will be dominated by two important national events, HM the Queen’s 90th birthday and the referendum on European membership.

At All Saints’ we will take our part in the royal celebrations. Over the birthday weekend of 11th-12th June the Church will be open and serving refreshments in the Barber Rooms. If you can contribute, either by baking or by helping to serve, please speak to Katie Foot. The All Saints’ Flower Guild is planning a flower display in the Church in honour of the occasion. We are also hoping to mount an exhibition of photographs of the Church and church events taken over the last 90 years. If you have any interesting photographs the Wardens would be delighted to hear from you. The Church bells will also ring out as part of the nationwide celebrations; this seems particularly appropriate as they were dedicated in 1926!

Regarding the referendum, it seems appropriate to urge all the members of All Saints’ to take this decision seriously. Try to understand the issues and pray about how you should vote. On a personal note, we would ask you to think of wider concerns of social justice rather than simply whether you will have more or less in your pocket. There will be a debate in the Corn Exchange on 3rd June at 7.00pm (speakers: Ed Vaizey MP and Baroness Royall of Blaisdon PC (For) and Jonathan Russell and Charles Crawford CMG (Against)). See also Think Pray Vote for more information.

On a very different note, June sees a change in our CMS Link Partners. This link with the mission of the worldwide church is important, helping us to look outside our small sphere. On 29th May we say goodbye to David and Liza Cooke who have been working in conflict resolution in Kenya. Then on 5th June we welcome Lynn Treneary at the morning service: do stay afterwards to chat with her over coffee. Lynn is beginning her service with the Chaima Christian Institute in Maridi, South Sudan.